PEACE

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Recently, I was reminded of a picture I asked an AI software to create well over a year ago. The instructions were simple:

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”.

Even though my mind was asking a computer to create an image… my heart was crying out for God to give me an explanation for the confusion I was wrestling with. As the image was generated from my prompt, my heart was once again still, not because of the image itself, but because of what the image represented: PEACE

For me, my assured confidence started with this Peace.

The key that Christ chose to give me, to unlock all the rest of His attributes, is this irrational Peace.

“The peace that surpasses all understanding”. ...but what does that even mean? The Peace that God gives doesn't make sense to the human mind. The reason it doesn’t make sense is because He’s removing my desires, my need to understand, my desire to see things in control, and giving me the faith to submit to His desires, His vision and His control. He's taking my spotlight that I so desperately try to use to expose all the dangers in my life, and He replaces it with a dim lamp that barely lets me take a couple safe steps at a time.

By His Grace alone, the miracle that takes place each time is that He gives me the ability to trust His lamp over my spotlight...when it doesn't make sense. What Christ is doing in the unseen, the things being orchestrated in the dark, far surpasses anything that I could ever control with clear vision in the light.

Now, my heart does wander from this treasure, because I am often caught off guard by the uncertainties just in the edge of the shadows, or sounds of the future in the distance, but He always reveals that with each step, He is in control of what I can see, and most importantly, what I cannot see...the things I can't understand.

So, one of the many wonderful things that is being prepared for the believer on the “table”, even in the presence our enemies (financial strain, anxiety, fear, sickness, disease, and even death), is the Peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding, the assurance that even the things that aren’t seen, are Finished. Even though we walk through shadows of death, and the dim light of the lamp doesn’t seem like enough to make sense of things, His Peace will sustain you. If you are in the dim light, then that means you are very near to Christ and all of those “enemies” are bowing to whatever He commands to them in the darkness.

Scripture for consideration:

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (ESV)

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (ESV)

John 19:30

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (ESV)

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (ESV)

Philippians 4:6–7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Colossians 2:15

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.(ESV)

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (ESV)